Can Dogs Eat Oranges? Are These Fruits Really Good or Bad?

Dogs are not always all about the meat. Some would go crazy for fruits. Several known healthy fruits for dogs include bananas, apples, and blueberries. You might even see these kinds of fruits as ingredients in the foods and treats of your dog. Not only these fruits promote better health for dogs, but also these become a favorite snack because of their delicious and sweet flavors. Nevertheless, not every fruit is safe for dogs to eat. Several dangerous foods for dogs like macadamia nuts and grapes can be poisonous to your dog. So, can dogs eat oranges?

The answer is simple, and dogs can eat oranges. The sweetness isn’t a problem as natural sugars fed with fiber are very safe. In terms of how much of an orange your dog must eat, experts suggest that smaller dogs have between ¼-1/3 of a moderate-sized orange and bigger dogs may eat an entire one. There isn’t really a limit on how much vitamin C a dog can have for the reason that it’s water soluble and the excess levels are urinated out and do not accumulate in the body.

Are Oranges Good for Your Dogs? – Know the Truth!

Most of you know that oranges are safe for dogs, yet are they good for your dog? In other terms, is there any benefit you can get from feeding oranges to your pets? Well, the main nutrient found in the oranges is vitamin C or ascorbic acid. This antioxidant helps in healing wounds and protects one’s body from an illness or disease, making it an essential nutrient for human beings.

According to a study, dogs don’t need exogenous vitamin C, which just means that they do not need some vitamin C supplements to be healthy. Healthy dogs that are fed with a balanced, normal diet do just fine without taking any additional vitamins. With that said, in several instances, additional vitamin C can help in preventing damage to the liver and will enhance stability to some nutrients. This is especially true when the dogs exert themselves through a lot of exercises that may halt the ability of the liver to create vitamin C. Overall; there aren’t any health benefits associated with dogs eating an orange fruit. Nevertheless, vitamin C oranges offer limited support for several dogs on various occasions.

Can Dogs Eat Orange Peels – Find Out If Orange Peels Are Safe!

Seeds and peels may also cause some issues for dogs. It is best for the owners to get rid of these before giving them an orange as a treat. While they aren’t toxic to dogs, seeds and peels are much harder to digest compared to the orange’s soft insides. This may lead to upset stomachs.

While most dogs can eat oranges without any problem, there are dogs that might get an upset stomach from eating even the orange’s soft parts. They won’t likely suffer from any long-term consequences, yet the dog might be uncomfortable until the orange is out of their body system. Due to this, it’s best to give your dog small oranges until you’re sure that his body can tolerate it. As with any particular food, once you notice your dog behaving strangely after eating orange peels, don’t hesitate to stop feeding him immediately.

Can Dogs Eat Oranges: Are These Fruits Bad for Dogs?

Oranges are actually fine for the majority of dogs to eat, yet they can be unhealthy in several ways. AKC warns dog owners that while citrus fruits are low in sodium, these have a high content of natural sugars. Because of these sugars, the oranges aren’t the best treat for dogs that are overweight.

How Many Oranges Can Dogs Eat?

To start with, give your dog one or two sections of oranges. It’ll make it simpler to avoid the dog getting an upset stomach or overeating as you learn whether their body can handle this fruit. After knowing that your dog can eat oranges without having an upset stomach, it’s safe to feed your dog a bit more.

You have to take note that bigger dogs like Labradors must eat one whole orange per day and small dogs must stick to eating no more than a third of an orange every day. However, to top it all, you must stick to 1 o 2 sections of oranges for all dogs, regardless of its size.

Veterinarians recommend up to 2 pieces of orange daily. He states that the oranges along with some treats must not make up more than ten percent of the daily calories of your dog.

Can Dogs Drink an Orange Juice?

Since dogs do not require vitamin C supplements, they do not have to drink an orange juice or eat oranges to be healthy. However, if your dog has a hankering for an occasional taste of citrus, you would be better off offering a whole orange fruit. The reason behind it is that most store-bought orange juice contains added artificial sugars. Your dog might love to drink it up, yet it may lead to several health problems including obesity. It’s best to give your dog with lots of water and save an orange juice for your breakfast table.

Can Dogs Eat Mandarin Oranges?

The answer to this question is yes. Like the typical oranges, mandarin oranges pose no threat to dogs unless a dog is suffering from diabetes. The contained sugar in mandarin oranges can be a health problem to diabetic dogs, so avoid feeding these with any. While humans require vitamin C to improve their immune system and avoid scurvy, dogs do not need the nutrients offered by mandarin oranges. When it comes to nutritional standpoint, mandarin oranges are empty calories for your dog. Big amount of citrus fruits might cause your dog to have diarrhea, yet there is nothing toxic to any dog in terms of these fruits.

Feeding Oranges to Dogs Should Be Done in Moderation

The truth is that the fruits must not be fed to dogs in large quantities and it’s true when it comes to oranges. You must ration the portions to avoid potential digestive disruption. Sure, oranges are really healthy as well as contain valuable minerals and vitamins. In fact, they are high in vitamin C, potassium, thiamine, and folate. However, this fruit’s acidic nature is not a natural fit for dogs. Orange juice may cause diarrhea. You might want to exclude this, even if some dogs may handle a fair amount of oranges.

Can Puppies Eat Oranges – Advantages of Oranges for Dogs

Vitamin C is basically an essential nutrient for dog owners, so you might have imagined that your pet could also reap some of these benefits from biting an orange. According to experts, in several dogs, extreme stress or exercise can overwhelm the capacity of the liver to create vitamin C. In such cases, it might be advantageous to give additional supplementation of vitamin C. Nevertheless, for the majority of dogs or puppies, it isn’t actually required.

The nutrients in the oranges can have a good effect on the immune system of a dog. In addition to that, a dosage of vitamin C can be advantageous for dogs once they ingest toxic substances such as propylene glycol, onion powder, and some oxidative toxins.

Do Oranges for Dogs Have Hazards?

Dog owners must remember that additional sugars and calories found in the oranges and whether or not this fits into the daily diet of the dog. Oranges may affect the diabetic dog’s blood values, more because of the vitamin C compared to the levels of sugar and would be a good idea to avoid these.

Aside from the actual orange’s fruit portion, the outer rind has a big amount of vitamin C and additional minerals and vitamins in a concentrated form. However, giving dogs some orange rinds isn’t recommended. They are hard for the digestive system of a dog to break down and might cause gastrointestinal upset. Dog owners must also ensure to cut out seeds before feeding an orange slice to their dogs.

Nearly almost all dogs on balanced and complete diets don’t need mineral or vitamin supplementation from fruits. However, if your dog cannot resist the sweet and juicy citrus, in many cases, sharing some slices will serve a tasty treat option and get you grateful kisses and bond in return.

What is the Citrus Oil Toxicity in Dogs?

D-limonene and linalool are commonly referred to as citrus oil. You may find citrus oil in the aromatherapy products, the orange trees, and the orange’s skin. The citrus oil is considered as the most potent form of d-limonene and linalool, and this must be kept away from the pets entirely. If you are using aromatherapy products, try to double check the ingredients and make sure that they don’t come into contact with your dogs. Some products might contain citrus oil, and these include the following:

Herbal remedies

Food flavorings

Flea shampoos

Perfumes

Shampoos

Potpourri

If a dog ingested a citrus oil, this could be fatal. The citrus oil toxicity symptoms in dogs are as follows:

Redness on lips, gums or tongue

Pawing at the mouth or face

Muscle tremors

Walking difficulties

Dermatitis

Hypothermia

Trembling

Depression

Low blood pressure

Lethargy

Drooling

Weakness

Diarrhea

Vomiting

If you think your dog has ingested some citrus oil, contact the nearest vet as soon as possible.

Diabetics and Vitamin C

Dogs that eat oranges will benefit from having a strengthened immune system. Vitamin C is basically a powerful nutrient and this is definitely problematic if your dog is not producing enough. In these cases, even if it is hard to know, dogs should only consume fruits in moderation. Consider balancing your dog’s diet by including small pieces of oranges and watch for any signs of GI upset. Dogs that have diabetes, on contrary, must not be eating foods that might affect the level of blood sugar negatively. Oranges must be avoided in such cases.

The Pith Part of Oranges is Perfect for Dogs

A lot of people do not enjoy the orange’s pith part. That is where your dogs come in. The whitish, stringy, web-like, and fibrous healthy food is basically a pet-friendly part of oranges. Therefore, if you are eating some oranges, you can share this part to your dog. It is perfect for your cute pet. However, in terms of peel or outer rind, get rid of it because it’s poorly digested and often not recommended.

What Are the Fruits You Can Feed to Dogs?

If you like to swap over your dog’s snacks for a healthier option, giving him, some oranges can be okay, yet make sure to pair this with something else instead of relying on this sweet fruit solely. Consider swapping treats for fruits like apples, watermelon, and blueberries. All of these have low sugar content compared to oranges, and they’re less likely to cause upset stomach and diarrhea in your dog.

What Should You Do When Feeding Oranges to Your Dogs?

Oranges may cause your pet dog to suffer from diarrhea and upset stomach. This sweet and acidic fruit must be given only in small amounts. Some slices of orange are enough. Typically, dogs do not need supplementation of vitamin C. In comparison to oranges, other fruits like bananas are also good for your dog. However, before you feed such fruits to your dogs, see to it that you have consulted this with your pet’s veterinarian. The main reason behind it is that dogs are not the same as humans. What you eat daily might not be recommended for your dog.

So, before it’s too late or if you are still wondering about the answer to the question “can dogs eat oranges?”, ask your vet.